When was cannabis made illegal in canada

The Act protects public health through creating strict safety and quality regulations. In addition, public education efforts are currently underway to raise awareness about safety measures and any potential health risks.

Federal, provincial and territorial governments share responsibility for overseeing the cannabis regulation system. Provinces and territories are responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining and enforcing systems to oversee the distribution and sale of cannabis. They are also able to add their own safety measures, such as:. Be sure to check local laws in your province.

These are to inform Canadians, especially youth, of the health and safety risks of cannabis consumption. Statistics Canada reports that in , almost 48, cannabis-related drug offences were reported to police.

A criminal record resulting from a cannabis offence, even a minor possession charge, can have serious and lifelong implications for the person charged. In allowing the production and possession of legal cannabis for adults, the Act helps keep Canadians who consume cannabis out of the criminal justice system, reducing the burden on the courts.

Cannabis offences target those acting outside of the legal framework, such as organized crime. Penalties are set in proportion to the seriousness of the offence. The U. Customs and Border Protection agency has already been clear that Canadians who are caught at the border with marijuana could be banned from the country for life, as could those members of the industry who are upfront about traveling to the states on business.

While U. See Also. Newswire Powered by. Close the menu. Rolling Stone. Log In. To help keep your account secure, please log-in again. The police wisely retreated. As late as the mids, a study of convicted drug criminals in British Columbia found that very few of them had ever tried the drug.

It was not until the Baby Boomers came of age in the swinging s that cannabis became a drug of choice. Middle-class youth were outraged by the long sentences given out for marijuana possession, as were some of their parents. In , amendments to the drug act made it possible for prosecutors to proceed by summary conviction.

This made it far more likely that possession of marijuana would be punished by a fine rather than a jail term and set us on the path towards legalization. And so after this long and fascinating history, cannabis will become legal in Canada on July 1, although delays in the Senate mean that legal marijuana will not be available until later in the summer. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom.

Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in. Canada is on track to legalize marijuana on July 1. But why was it criminalized in the first place?